Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Thou Swell on piano
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 155 BPM
- 1927
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Thou Swell in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Eb – Am – D7 – Gm
How it goes
Thou Swell sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Am is A, C and E; D7 is D, F#, A and C; Gm is G, Bb and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbIAm#ivD7VII7Gmiii- EbEb · G · Bb
- AmA · C · E
- D7D · F# · A · C
- GmG · Bb · D
- 2
Left hand: Stride jumps
How it goes
Deep bass, then a chord in the middle: the left hand leaps. Musicians call it stride (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 961 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Late-knock chords
How it goes
One chord, a long wait, then a quick knock-knock at the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 155 BPM
How it goes
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
- 5
Ending: Ab – Bb – Eb
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb- AbAb · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F
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Questions about Thou Swell
What chords are in Thou Swell?
The loop is Eb – Am – D7 – Gm (I – #iv – VII7 – iii) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is Thou Swell in?
Eb major, at about 155 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Thou Swell?
Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Thou Swell easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.